PROJECTS
STRATEGY 6 focuses on capital and organizational development projects in the arts, culture, and social and science innovation sectors for initiatives across Canada. Our team has over 25 years of combined national experience in strategic planning, project management, capital development, and business and fund development for public and private sectors.
Our approach is grounded in listening and learning to develop strategies that reflect the unique stories and goals of our clients. We use our broad set of research and analytical methodologies to demonstrate alignment between partners and stakeholders, to achieve buy-in. By applying creative thought leadership instead of templated solutions, we uncover opportunities that deliver meaningful impact.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
STRATEGY 6 brings a combined 25+ years of broad project, program, and portfolio management experience. We are equipped with best practice methodologies and tools and work flexibly with our partnered clients. Our experience ranges from internal organizational projects to commercialization planning for start-ups to large-scale built environment development.
FACILITY PLANNING + FUNCTIONAL PROGRAMMING
Early engagement and planning are the keys to a successful development project, and STRATEGY 6 specializes in front-end planning, stakeholder management, feasibility, and functional programming, as well as the implementation of those plans. Experience varies from Owner’s Representative, to managing technical design teams directly, to using Industrial Engineering methods to optimize function and space.
STRATEGIC PLANNING + VISIONING
Strategic Planning requires looking at the strengths and weaknesses of an organization or project, and aligning those with the opportunities, threats, and the external goals of partners. STRATEGY 6 combines experience with thoroughly researched best practices in Strategic Planning and adds creative thought leadership to develop unique plans for our partnered clients.
FUNDING STRATEGY
We help partnered clients unlock fund development opportunities through developing their core messages and goals - ultimately achieving public and private buy-in. We map out opportunities and approaches for fund development and integrate those plans into the core project planning.
Renovation of 1588 Barrington Street
Turret Arts Space Society | Halifax NS
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Schedule: 2022 – Present
Size: 10000+ gsf, $20 Million
The Turret Arts Space Society (Turret) is developing an accessible arts, culture, and social purpose building servicing Halifax and the greater Nova Scotian community.
This landmark arts hub will break down barriers in the artistic community — financial, cultural, and physical — creating a welcoming, accessible space that’s affordable for the resident tenants and other community groups.
Turret acquired the building, formerly known as the home of The Khyber Centre for the Arts, from HRM in 2018 after considerable advocacy for preserving the building and its history as an activated community space and arts creation and presentation space.
STRATEGY 6 is the Project Manager for the design and construction of the building, the Strategic Planning Advisor and Manager for Turret’s organizational development, and has helped raise and manage almost $1 million in public funding.
Thus far, the project team has engaged 10+ consultants under STRATEGY 6’s management, with a variety of specialties, including Business Planning, Operationalization, Marketing, Design, Brand, Governance, Heritage Planning, and Architecture.
In 2023, STRATEGY 6 completed the Stakeholder Requirements Elicitation and Functional Program for Turret and their anchor tenants, Khyber Centre for the Arts and Leave Out Violence Nova Scotia, which included programmatic and growth planning for all the organizations and informed the Design Development (2024). They also gathered and provided in-depth analysis of Market Research for the project, and in February 2024, delivered Turret’s Impact Strategy to all three levels of government funders. The Impact Strategy included a Financial Model that demonstrates a sustainable economic plan with a 20-year horizon, developed by several collaborative financial consultants, under the management and guidance of Alexis Cormier. Turret launched their public Capital Campaign in October 2024.
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Alexis Cormier | Principal Project Manager, Strategic Planner, Functional Programmer
Annalise Prodor | Associate Project Manager, Fund Development
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Project Management
Strategic Advising
Functional Planning
Funding Strategy
New Riverbend Library
OG Architects | City of Edmonton | Edmonton AB
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Schedule: 2022 – present
Size: $10 million
City of Edmonton (COE) is landlord for the new Riverbend Library planned for the Bryan Anderson Athletic Grounds, in the Terwillegar neighbourhood, for their client, Edmonton Public Libraries (EPL).
STRATEGY 6 led the extensive proposal development process for the collaborative Prime Design Team of OG Architects, Sturgess Architecture, Transsolar KlimaEngineering, and Indigenous multidisciplinary visual artist and community navigator, Carrie Allison, and remained on the project as Project Manager of the Design Team.
Responsibilities included managing the review and update of EPL’s standard Functional Program and Quality, Risk, and Schedule Management. This robust and public project includes 30+ direct stakeholders, extensive community impact and engagement, and a public approvals process through the Edmonton Design Committee and COE.
Riverbend Library completed Design Development in 2023 and is in the process of funding approval with City Edmonton Council.
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Alexis Cormier | Principal Project Manager
Annalise Prodor | Associate Project Manager
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Project Management
Strategic Resource Development, Communications Planning, Fund Development, & Impact Strategy
2b Theatre | Halifax NS
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Schedule: 2023 – 2024
2b Theatre Company is an award-winning theatre production company and creative incubator for innovative and original works locally in Halifax and across Canada.
STRATEGY 6 was engaged by 2b theatre in November 2023, to assess needs within the organization around Resource Development, which includes the areas of Strategic Planning, Fundraising, and Communications. The output tools and strategies will facilitate 2b theatre’s next phase of growth and staff planning and include: a revamp of Fundraising Tools and refreshed Donor Prospecting, Communications Plan for Q1/Q2 2024, and an Impact Strategy for future partnership development opportunities.
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Alexis Cormier | Principal Strategic Advisor
Annalise Prodor | Fund Development Advisor
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Project Management
Strategic Advising
Funding Strategy
Habitat Way Affordable Housing Development
Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia | Halifax NS
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Schedule: 2022 – 2023
Size: 50 x 2-3 bedroom homes, budget confidential
Habitat Way was planned to be the largest development for Habitat for Humanity Canada (HFHCan), and with that opportunity, Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia (HFHNS) was ambitious in setting precedents for quality, accessibility, and sustainability.
Site Plans and Building Typologies had evolved and gone through many iterations since the project started in 2012. In 2021, HFHNS and HFHCan gained new and enthusiastic leadership, focused on moving this project forward ahead. Habitat Way aimed to develop 50 affordable townhouse units in Spryfield, HRM. As part of the Habitat for Humanity model, 100% of these units were planned to be and would remain affordable within the scope of the program, and 60% of the development was designated for Black families.
STRATEGY 6 joined the team in 2022 to support HFHNS leadership in leading the team of 10+ consultants in the Site and Housing Design, to submit a Development Agreement Amendment to HRM (completed July 2023) and prepare the Business Case for the project (completed 2023). The planning for Habitat Way was publicly funded and STRATEGY 6 helped raise and manage $300k+ in project funding. Due to unprecedented escalation in cost of construction and housing value volatility, Habitat Way was deemed infeasible.
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Alexis Cormier | Principal Project Manager, Fund Development
Annalise Prodor | Associate Project Manager, Fund Development
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Project Management
Strategic Advising
Funding Strategy
Avondale Artist Village
Impact Culture Capital CIC | Halifax NS
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Schedule: 2020 – 2022
Size: $50+ million
The Avondale Artist Village was planned to be a rural community that aims to fulfill a critical need: to provide an affordable housing and professional development hub for artists. It would also serve as a launchpad for profitable social enterprises, with a focus on developing a holistic arts and culture tourism destination. The site encompasses over 100 acres of prime agricultural land and forest, and features a fortified structure, The Mission, which was built in 1699; a site with a blended history for First Nations people and settlers. The project planned to have 30-40 affordable homes and short-term residences, artist studios, gallery, event spaces, boutique hotel and spa, food and beverage amenities, and a farm.
Alexis Cormier served as the Project Manager and Strategic Planning Advisor for Impact Culture Capital CIC, to lead the company start-up, development of the Master Plan and Business Plan, social innovation and governance modeling, sustainability strategy, managing a consultant team of 15+. Alexis directly provided benchmarking and market research by examining five (5) leading artistic residencies across Canada to determine the best market position for Avondale Artist Village’s proposition. Data was collected through virtual search, surveys, and interviews. She also directly developed the funding strategy, and stakeholder mapping and engagement. Through strategic and political engagement, team building, and partnership building with Glooscap First Nation, Alexis successfully led the raise of over $400k in public funds for the project (Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp | ACOA | Communities, Culture, Tourism, and Heritage Nova Scotia | Housing Nova Scotia).
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Alexis Cormier | Principal Project Manager, Strategic Planner, Fund Development
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Project Management
Strategic Advising
Funding Strategy
Wellness Technology Commercialization Plan
AYCOUTAY Technologies | Halifax NS
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Schedule: 2019 – 2020
Within the same ecosystem of companies as another client, Smallfood Inc., AYCOUTAY Technologies also works in wellness innovation with their first wave of technology releasing in 2021. The technology is a proprietary Health Screening Device, based on well-established EEG technology, which measures electrical biomarkers to examine the health and performance of all 21 organs and glands to drives insights and provide health recommendations. AYCOUTAY is moving toward certified medical uses, and their technology is currently used at top medical research institutions across the US.
The technology includes custom software, hardware, and programming development, 5+ teams of consultants, and the content contribution of a team of clinical and research professionals. AYCOUTAY is a start-up, in an ecosystem of wellness start-ups, and required support in developing the project management and strategic skills and tools to plan and execute their first wave of commercialization. Alexis supported the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Strategy Officer in developing approaches to managing stakeholders and internal team members, which included implementing a risk management plan and tool and a full commercialization plan. She also coached the Director of Product Development in procurement / consultant management, resource management, project management, quality management, and trained the Director in scheduling theory and practical implementation in MS Project.
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Alexis Cormier | Principal Project Management, Strategic Advisor
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Project Management
Strategic Advising
Culture Link Functional Programming Study
Culture Link | Halifax NS
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Schedule: 2019 – 2020
The Culture Link aim was to develop a performing arts centre in the downtown core of Halifax, by retrofitting the former World Trade and Convention Centre (Argyle Street). The Culture Link planned to primarily support production in professional theatre and dance, fine art and commercial music, and film / television. Pain points of the project included dealing with the constraints of the existing facility structure and proving a sustainable business case for the facility assets they were providing.
STRATEGY 6, in partnership with a Theatre Operations Consultant, Louisa Adamson, provided the Functional Program for HRM infrastructure needs for all professional theatre and dance, to inform the asset development and business case for the Culture Link. Work included development and implementation of a stakeholder engagement plan; 25+ elicitation sessions, 40+ organizations. The output was a detailed utilization model (developed by Alexis Cormier), providing a Schedule of Accommodations and the projected annual use, coupled with detailed technical specifications. The Functional Program provided the data Culture Link needed to make the business decisions on which assets to provide in the new facility. Throughout the mandate, Alexis also provided Project Management Advising in scheduling, risk, and procurement.
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Alexis Cormier | Principal Project Manager, Functional Programmer
Louisa Adamson | Theatre Operations Consultant
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Project Management
Functional Planning
SF1 Pilot Facility Development, Feasibility Study and Concept Design
Smallfood Inc. | Dartmouth NS
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Schedule: 2019
Size: $75+ million
Smallfood Inc. aims to provide the most efficient means of producing algae as a protein food source, using vertical fermentation. The project site was an existing fish oil capsule processing plant in Dartmouth, NS, which includes a 10-year-old, unused building, and an inventory of large-scale, industrial production equipment, some of which can be repurposed for future use.
As Senior Project Manager and Strategic Planner, STRATEGY 6 acted as the Owner’s Representative to support the broad Smallfood Inc. Executive Leadership Team and led the multi-disciplinary technical team (process engineers, architects, engineers, net-zero carbon, cost, space planning). The scope of work included developing and implementing a concise facility vision and functional program, which Alexis Cormier facilitated and produced directly. Alexis led the client and technical teams through master project planning, risk and schedule planning, Building Conditions Assessment, feasibility level process design (FEL-1 and FEL-2), concept design and layout development, Class ‘D’ Cost Estimate, and all procurement associated with this work. Subset plans were developed to support the executive verticals, and included Commercialization Plans, Financing Cash Flow, and Quality Assurance / Regulatory Plan.
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Alexis Cormier | Principal Project Manager, Functional Programmer
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Project Management
Strategic Advising
Functional Planning
Bio Art Series Production
IOTA Institute | Halifax NS
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Schedule: 2019
Size: $100K
IOTA Institute executed its largest project, to date, in Spring 2019: the Bio Art Series. The Series featured research, collaborations, exhibitions, public engagements and workshops, and performances, by local, national, and international artists / scientists in Bio Art (including Jordan Bennett, Stelarc, Jennifer Willet, and Andrew Pelling).
Alexis Cormier acted as the Project Manager and Producer for the Implementation phase of the project (Jan – May 2019), which included developing partnerships with major organizations and sites / venues across downtown Halifax, accommodating the technical needs of the artists and their visit to Halifax, developing and managing schedule / budget / resource plans, coordinating the site infrastructure development (where needed), and managing the teams during the execution of the events.
Alexis’ seasoned theatre and production experience supported the success of this project when dealing with developing and implementing technical specifications. Furthermore, her thorough understanding of stakeholder navigation and management, crossed with her social and cultural fluency and sensitivity was critical to support the artists, ensuring their work was presented with the intended messaging and integrity. The Series was delivered within 1% of the budget, which included 20+ resources. Partners and venues included NSCAD, Dalhousie University, Halifax Central Library, Discovery Centre, AGNS, and Tell Tale Productions.
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Alexis Cormier | Producer
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Project Management